Okay once again I'm breaking my own one-week time-off from OSNews due to, you know, taking a break and being too busy with other things, but this one is big - very big. Also, only the second time in OSNews history we've used the 'breaking'-tag. Google has just announced it is going to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion (more here). While providing Google with a dedicated mobile phone business, it also gives Google ownership of one of the most valuable mobile technology patent portfolios in existence. Update:Responses from the Android ecosystem are positive. HTC: "We welcome the news of today's acquisition, which demonstrates that Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem." Sony Ericsson & LG: "We welcome Google's commitment to defending Android and its partners."

3) People who think the other Android licensees are happy about this really need to think 30 seconds. The "statements" from so-called competitors in support of this acquisition are so closely-worded it appears they all "voluntarily" put out a joint press release. That is fairly creepy and should raise eyebrows at the DOJ.

I know. What I really expected them all to say was:

"We welcome our new googly overlords and look forward to surrendering beeeeelyuns in IP licensing fees in order to be allowed to continue to do business at all."

You don't think a better way to get the attention of of the regulations bodies would be to say that they feel threatened by this, or that it seems like too much concentration of power? You think that we will see headlines like: